Постановление было принято после того, как американский гигант Whirlpool призвал чиновников принять меры, чтобы остановить своих южнокорейских конкурентов Samsung и LG из-за того, что они "наводнили американский рынок более дешёвыми продуктами".
Предполагаемые меры защиты включают введение повышенных тарифов, для "защиты местной промышленности от внезапного скачка импорта или от недобросовестной торговой практики".
Однако такие протекционистские действия должны пройти публичные слушания и одобрены президентом страны, прежде чем вступят в силу.
Samsung и LG обвинили Whirlpool в попытке манипулировать торговыми законами США, чтобы компенсировать её неспособность идти в ногу с потребительскими предпочтениями.
ITC собирается дать свою рекомендацию по этому вопросу президенту Трампу до 4 декабря.
Samsung и LG решительно отвергают претензии Whirlpool и намерены представить ряд контрдоводов на предстоящих слушаниях по этому громкому делу.
В настоящее время большая часть стиральных машин Samsung и LG поставляется в США с вьетнамских и таиландских заводов этих южнокорейских корпораций. При этом внушительная часть акций той же Samsung принадлежит американцам, которые, в итоге, могут пострадать от падения курса ценных бумаг в связи с ограничениями, которые могут быть наложены вашингтонскими властями. Более того, большое количество рабочих мест Samsung и LG создали непосредственно на территории США и снижение доходов из-за протекционистских действий Whirlpool могут, в итоге, сказаться на зарплатах всё тех же американцев.
Samsung и LG уже строят новые заводы по производству бытовой на территории США, но когда они вступят в строй, возникнет проблема с загрузкой производственных мощностей в азиатских странах. В таком случае южнокорейцам придётся срочно искать новые рынки сбыта (что чрезвычайно сложно), либо прибегнуть к увольнениям работников во Вьетнаме и Таиланде, что также является весьма нежелательным шагом.
Наиболее пострадавшими во всей этой истории, естественно, станут американские покупатели, которым будет предложен меньший выбор по более высоким ценам, говорят представители южнокорейского бизнеса.
В любом случае ситуация должна как-то разрешиться в начале 2018-го года, когда президент Трамп вынесет свой окончательный вердикт, сообщают южнокорейские СМИ.
US trade commission finds Korean washers hurt domestic industry
The US International Trade Commission determined on Oct. 5 that two South Korean companies‘ washing machines manufactured in foreign countries were harming the US industry.
The trade body announced the result of its four-month investigation prompted by a safeguard petition Whirlpool Corp. filed May 31 against Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.
The appliance giant accused the Korea rivals of moving manufacturing operations to Vietnam and Thailand, respectively, to circumvent US anti-dumping tariffs imposed on their large residential washers.
“The US International Trade Commission has determined that large residential washers are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article in the United States,” the commission said on its website.
The decision does not affect washers made in South Korea or any other US free trade partners.
The investigation will move to a remedy phase, and a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19.
The commission plans to announce its remedy recommendations at the conclusion of the phase, and forward them to President Donald Trump by Dec. 4.
Remedy measures may include an increase in a duty, imposition of a quota, imposition of a tariff-rate quota, trade adjustment assistance, or any combination of such actions, according to the commission.
The president is expected to make a final decision by early next year, taking into account the commission’s report, industry efforts to make a positive adjustment to import competition, and factors related to the national economic interest of the US.
Samsung and LG exported a combined $1 billion worth of large residential washing machines to the US last year, holding some 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, of the market led by Whirlpool with 38 percent.
Samsung Electronics expressed disappointment in the decision, claiming the ITC‘s decision will have an adverse impact on US consumers.
“Restrictions on imports of Samsung washing machines will negatively affect American consumers by limiting choices, raising prices, and offering less innovative washing machines,” Samsung said through a statement.
Samsung added the company has been delivering innovative products, which are “made by Americans, and sold to American consumers.”
“We believe that safeguard remedies should not discriminate in favor of one group of US-based workers over another and should not negatively impact a fair appliance marketplace for consumers,” it added.
An official from LG Electronics also said US consumers and retailers will face damage if Washignton actually decides to impose regulations on its products.
LG Electronics added the ITC’s decision will have no impact on its plan to invest US$250 million to build a washer factory in the US.
The construction of the factory in Tennessee is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, with an annual production capacity of 1 million units.
Samsung, LG express disappointment in US ITC's remark on washers
South Korea‘s top tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. on Oct. 6 expressed disappointment in the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) announcement that they are having an adverse impact on its washer industry.
On Oct. 5 (US time), the ITC claimed the two South Korean firms‘ washing machines made in foreign countries were harming the US industry. The trade body announced the result of its four-month investigation prompted by a safeguard petition Whirlpool Corp. filed May 31 against Samsung and LG.
Samsung and LG claimed that the ITC’s announcement will rather have an adverse impact on US consumers by limiting their choices.
“We urge the Commission to consider carefully how potential remedies might hinder the establishment and operations of this facility and affect American consumers,” Samsung added.
LG Electronics echoed the view, claiming that US consumers and retailers will be the victims if Washington decides to slap its products with regulations.
“It is US retailers and consumers who chose (to purchase LG washers),” an official from LG Electronics said.
Samsung and LG are estimated to sell around 2 million units of washers in the US every year, with the combined value estimated at US$1 billion, industry watchers said.
Samsung produces most of the products in Thailand and Vietnam.
LG also makes around 80 percent of its washers in Thailand and Vietnam, while the remaining 20 percent is produced in South Korea.
Although the ITC‘s measure is expected to exclude volumes produced in South Korea, the decision is anticipated to weigh down on Samsung and LG’s sales as they still depend heavily on overseas production facilities.
Industry watchers said Samsung and LG‘s on-going projects to build production facilities in the United States will help in overcoming losses from the measure partially.
Samsung’s home appliances factory under construction in South Carolina is expected to be ready for operation in January. LG Electronics‘ construction of the washer factory in Tennessee is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.
The companies, however, still need to secure more time to commence stable productions at US facilities. They also must find new markets to sell washers produced in Southeast Asian countries, or reduce production there.
Samsung and LG currently plan to continue defend themselves at hearings to be hosted by the ITC later this month.
“We believe that safeguard remedies should not discriminate in favor of one group of US-based workers over another and should not negatively impact a fair appliance marketplace for consumers,” Samsung added.
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